Tag: pearlz

I lived in Charleston, South Carolina, for two years. I would have probably lived there forever, dying an old lady on a porch swing, but I met my wonderful Jake. Jake asked me to move, so I did because there was no way I was letting go of the best thing in my life.

I do miss Charleston, what with its seafood restaurants, Southern charm, and beach life. It wasn’t all oysters and champagne, though. I also developed my totally awesome anxiety disorder there. I battled heavy depression. A job that was terribly wrong for me proved something write. That’s not a typo. Charleston proved I was born to be a writer, and I finally embraced the mad career path, consequences be damned.

It was a whirlwind of a two years, during which everyone called me “Yankee,” but I still go back to Charleston whenever I can. It’s still one of my favorite places on Earth. It’s so beautiful as to be almost blinding … but there is a darkness there, what with its sordid history, ghost stories, and copious cemeteries.

For a story about a family of Southern witches, set to battle a dark witch who intends to end the world, Charleston just felt right, so I set my Enchanted trilogy on its gas-lit, brick streets. Read about the locations frequented by the characters of Enchanted: Magic Spark.

Broad Street

Arguably the prettiest street in downtown Charleston (followed closely by East Bay), most of the action in my story happens here, starting with a violent trolley explosion. Did I want to blow up my favorite street? No. But the palm trees will forgive me. It was an Enchanted plot necessity.

In Enchanted, I renamed this little gem the Broad Street Bistro, but Oak exists right in the center of Broad. It’s three stories of buttery seafood and killer steaks. I worked here for a hot minute before I remembered I’m terrible at customer service. It’s where Liam, my male lead, works in the book.

I didn’t rename this joint in the book because I just … couldn’t. I practically lived at Pearlz when I was in Charleston, and I always pay her a visit when I’m in SC. This is where I learned to eat raw oysters, and I am forever grateful. They also make the best Bloody Mary’s and is frequented by my female lead, Cyan, and her big, bad daddy, Drake.

Posh as you can get, I used to pretend to be rich and have martinis here. Back in my day, there was a jazz group that played every weekend. I had friends who worked here, which helped with the fat bill. Worth it. If you want real, old school, Southern charm, this is the place. Liam likes it, although it’s a little fancy for Cyan’s taste.

No surprise: I have a thing for cemeteries, especially when the tombs are mostly above ground, like the ones in Charleston. Cyan visits her wise, dead grandmother here, hunkered beneath the beautiful Angel Oaks. It’s a quiet place high on Meeting Street next to a gorgeous church.

If you want to read more about Charleston, South Carolina, read the story of how I met my husband HERE.

We’re getting very close to the release of Enchanted: Magic Spark on January 9. Pre-order your eBook copy HERE, but rest assured, it’ll be available in print on release day. Have a happy New Year!